Corporation for National and Community Service - Harris Woffordhttp://www.nationalservice.gov/tags-tags/harris-wofford
enHarris Wofford Awarded Presidential Citizens Medalhttp://www.nationalservice.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2013/harris-wofford-awarded-presidential-citizens-medal
<div class="field field-name-field-date-release field-type-datetime field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2013-02-15T00:00:00-05:00">Feb 15, 2013</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Out of 6,000 submissions, 18 Americans Awarded Civilian Honor</span></p><p>WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama today awarded Harris Wofford, a champion for national service and volunteerism, the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor.</p><p>Established in 1969, the Presidential Citizens Medal honors American citizens for performing exemplary deeds of service. After receiving more than 6,000 submissions nominating outstanding Americans from the public, the President <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/02/08/president-obama-honor-recipients-2012-citizens-medal">selected 18 recipients</a>, including Wofford.</p><p>“In this country, we look out for one another. We get each other's backs, especially in times of hardship or challenge. It's part of the reason why applications to AmeriCorps are at an all-time high. That's why volunteering in America is at the highest level it's been in years. And I know that makes Harris proud to hear,” said President Barack Obama. “Harris Wofford has devoted his entire life to creating opportunities for Americans to serve. And the reason it's such a privilege for me to share the stage with him and all the others who are participating here today, is because you've taken commitment to a whole new level. Every day, you're out there righting wrongs.Healing hurts.Changing lives.”</p><p>“No other American has done more to advance the cause of citizen service than Harris Wofford,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). “From launching the Peace Corps to crafting legislation that expands national service opportunities through AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, Harris has inspired countless Americans to pursue their own path public service and make a difference in the lives of others. To this day, he continues to bring energy and passion to the cause of national service, and we and the nation are much better off for it.”</p><p>Following the White House event, Wofford was honored at a ceremony at CNCS, the federal agency for volunteering and service which he previously led from 1995 to 2001. Family members and former colleagues paid tribute to his dedication and accomplishments in public service and a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW0f5hu4sDY">video tribute </a>was shown.</p><p>Wofford, 86, enlisted in the Army Air Corps in World War II. With degrees from the University of Chicago, Howard University, and Yale Law School, he served as counsel on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and as an early supporter of the Civil Rights movement; he became an advisor and friend of Martin Luther King. He played a critical role in the Kennedy Administration, first as Special Assistant to the President for Civil Rights, and then in working with Sargent Shriver to launch the Peace Corps.</p><p>After the Peace Corps, Wofford served as president the State University of New York at Old Westbury and Bryn Mawr College. He later served as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1994. During his time in the Senate, he played a key role in crafting legislation that created CNCS and designated the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday a national day of service.</p><p>President Clinton appointed Wofford to serve as CEO of CNCS, a position he held from 1995 to 2001. During his tenure, Wofford provided strong and visionary leadership to expand opportuniteis to serve, build bipartisan support, forge new partnerships with the nonprofit sector, and strengthen the agency's operations.</p><p>“At a time of strong demand and growing momentum for service, I am so pleased that Harris is right at our side, helping strengthen service in America,” said Spencer. “Harris and the other Citizens Medal recipients represent America's great tradition of citizen service, which we are proud to carry forward through our daily work. I encourage all Americans to find their own path of service by visiting <a href="http://www.serve.gov/">Serve.gov</a> to find opportunities to match their interests.”</p><p align="center">###</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-footer-field field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than four million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and other programs, and leads President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit <a href="http://128.121.39.38/"><span style="COLOR: #0066cc; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">NationalService.gov</span></a>.</p></div></div></div>Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000Editor10124 at http://www.nationalservice.govhttp://www.nationalservice.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2013/harris-wofford-awarded-presidential-citizens-medal#commentsA Video Salute to Presidential Citizens Medal Winner Harris Woffordhttp://www.nationalservice.gov/blogs/2013-02-15/video-salute-presidential-citizens-medal-winner-harris-wofford
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-terms field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Blog Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">United We Serve</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">CNCS Staff</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><a href="http://photos.nationalservice.gov/Servegov/As-Seen-onServegov/11021047_TH7QMx#!i=2366543885&amp;k=rW9CG9T&amp;lb=1&amp;s=A" title="President Barack Obama greets Sen. Harris Wofford as he presents him with the Presidential Citizens Medal at a White House ceremony on Feb. 15, 2013."><img align="right" alt="President Barack Obama greets Sen. Harris Wofford as he presents him with the Presidential Citizens Medal at a White House ceremony on Feb. 15, 2013." border="0" height="216" src="http://photos.nationalservice.gov/Servegov/As-Seen-onServegov/i-rW9CG9T/0/S/Harris_WH_final-2-S.jpg" style="MARGIN-TOP: 16px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6px; MARGIN-LEFT: 6px" width="300" /></a></p><p>Today Sen. Harris Wofford received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Obama during a White House ceremony. We salute Sen. Wofford as he receives this honor and for his role as a longtime supporter and former CEO of the <a href="/">Corporation for National and Community Service</a> (CNCS). We've created a video that pays tribute to his legacy and highlights his life in public service.</p><p>During the event, President Obama remarked, “In this country, we look out for one another. We get each other's backs, especially in times of hardship or challenge.It's part of the reason why applications to <a href="/programs/americorps">AmeriCorps</a> are at an all-time high. That's why volunteering in America is at the highest level it's been in years. And I know that makes Harris proud to hear.</p><p>“Harris Wofford has devoted his entire life to creating opportunities for Americans to serve. And the reason it's such a privilege for me to share the stage with him and all the others who are participating here today, is because you've taken commitment to a whole new level. Every day, you're out there righting wrongs. Healing hurts. Changing lives.”</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UW0f5hu4sDY" width="560"></iframe></p><p>The Presidential Citizens Medal is the nation's second-highest civilian honor and recognizes American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. Current CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer gave her personal recollections about Sen. Wofford when the honor was announced and you can <a href="/blogs/2013-02-08/harris-wofford-receive-presidential-citizens-medal">read them here</a>.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags-tax field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags-tags/harris-wofford" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Harris Wofford</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags-tags/presidential-citizens-medal" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Presidential Citizens Medal</a></div></div></div>Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000Editor3236 at http://www.nationalservice.govhttp://www.nationalservice.gov/blogs/2013-02-15/video-salute-presidential-citizens-medal-winner-harris-wofford#commentsHarris Wofford to Receive the Presidential Citizens Medalhttp://www.nationalservice.gov/blogs/2013-02-08/harris-wofford-receive-presidential-citizens-medal
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-terms field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Blog Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">United We Serve</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-author field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">By:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Wendy Spencer</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, recognizes American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. Sen. Harris Wofford will be honored along with other recipients at a White House ceremony on Friday, Feb. 15.</p><p><a href="http://photos.nationalservice.gov/Servegov/As-Seen-onServegov/11021047_TH7QMx#!i=2356381596&amp;k=wqbHWgz&amp;lb=1&amp;s=A" title="Harris Wofford with President John F. Kennedy Jr. on the South Lawn of the White House for the sendoff of some of the first Peace Corps volunteers in 1962."><img alt="Harris Wofford with President John F. Kennedy Jr. on the South Lawn of the White House for the sendoff of some of the first Peace Corps volunteers in 1962." src="http://photos.nationalservice.gov/Servegov/As-Seen-onServegov/i-wqbHWgz/0/S/HW%20%26%20JFK-S.jpg" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-right: 6px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; float: left; width: 315px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p>We are thrilled that Sen. Wofford will receive this special honor, which is so fitting given his exemplary life of public service. For seven decades, he has served his country. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, advised President Kennedy on civil rights, and helped Sargent Shriver launch the Peace Corps. He represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate from 1991 to 1994 and served as the CEO of the <a href="/">Corporation for National and Community Service</a> (CNCS) from 1995 to 2001.</p><p>All of us connected to national service are especially grateful for his leadership in service and volunteering. From working to pass the trailblazing legislation creating CNCS to expanding service opportunities in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps and expanding service opportunities and building bipartisan support as CEO, to his leadership on service initiatives outside government, no other American has done more to advance the cause of citizen service. Throughout his career, Wofford has worked across party lines to find common ground. To this day, he continues to bring energy and passion to the cause of national service, and we and the nation are much better off for it.</p><p>Like many of you, I feel lucky to count Harris Wofford as my friend. At a time of strong demand and growing momentum for service, I am so pleased that he is right at our side, helping us strengthen service in America.</p><p><a href="http://photos.nationalservice.gov/Newsroom/Days-of-Service/National-Day-of-Service-MLK/27673816_ZtgxDL#!i=2336217711&amp;k=ZF8tDsk&amp;lb=1&amp;s=A" title="Sen. Harris Wofford meets national service participants during the Service Fair at the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Jan. 19, 2013. (Corporation for National and Community Service photo)"><img align="right" alt="Sen. Harris Wofford meets national service participants during the Service Fair at the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Jan. 19, 2013. (Corporation for National and Community Service photo)" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos.nationalservice.gov/Newsroom/Days-of-Service/National-Day-of-Service-MLK/i-ZF8tDsk/0/S/IMG_1904-S.jpg" style="MARGIN-TOP: 6px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6px; MARGIN-LEFT: 6px" width="300" /></a></p><p>When he walks across the stage to receive this honor, let us celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our dear friend and mentor. But let us also commit to working harder to carry out his vision and life's work. Harris would be the first to say that we have much more to do to make service the common expectation and experience of every American.</p><p>Sen. Wofford and the other Citizens Medal recipients represent America's great tradition of citizen service, which we are proud to carry forward through our daily work. I encourage you to watch next Friday's announcement live at 10:45 a.m. EST at <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/live">WhiteHouse.gov/live</a>.</p><p>Those who are inspired by these extraordinary citizens to start their own path of service can visit <a href="http://www.serve.gov/">Serve.gov</a> to find opportunities to match their interests.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags-tax field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags-tags/harris-wofford" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Harris Wofford</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags-tags/wendy-spencer" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wendy Spencer</a></div></div></div>Fri, 08 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000Editor3234 at http://www.nationalservice.govhttp://www.nationalservice.gov/blogs/2013-02-08/harris-wofford-receive-presidential-citizens-medal#comments